Handwriting machine



' y 1931. R. A. FLUM HANDWRITING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1929 sSheets-Sheet 2 IINVENTOR ATTO RN EY July 7, 1931.

R. A. FLUM HANDWRITING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Shae} 3 MMvWATTORNEY PatentedJuly 7, 1931 ATENT, OFFICE ROBERT A. FLUM, or CLEVELANDHEIGHTS, oi-IIo HANDWRITING MACHINE Application filed mini 5,

This invention relates to hand writing machines of the type where astrip of paper is fed across a platen on which memoranda may be made byhand: and the strip advanced by regulated steps and torn from the stripfor filing or other purposes as desired. y I

The object of my invention is to provide a handwriting machine theplaten rollers and advancing mechanism of which are con structed as aunit and maybe securedin any suitable casing, or in any type ofshowcase,table or desk where desired through which to feed a continuous strip ofpaper from a roll or ziz-zag stack. I v -A further object is to providea device for the nurposeset forth which is comparatively simplefinconstruction readily assembled and positive "in operation an in whichthe roll of paperjis hidden from view and only a short strip'is exposedas it passes over the platen, vand in which the paper may be advanced byregulatedsteps by a wheel or. other means conveniently arrangedunder theheel of the hand as the memorandum is made.

With these and such other objects in view as will be apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in all the novel features ofconstruction and combination of partsherein disclosed and particularlypointed out in the appendediclaiins.

In thedrawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation i of the complete handwritingmachine in its 1; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the paper I advancingunit; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the paper advancing unit, the centralpart of the casing being shown in section; and

. Fig. 8 is a top view ofthesides, top and bottom members of the paperadvancing unit disassembled.

In describing my invention, reference is 1929. Serial No. 352,627.

which like reference numerals are' used to designate like parts in theseveral views,

In the embodiment of my invention illus trated in the drawings, 10.designates a onepiece casing molded or stamped from anysuitablemateriah'thebottom of which is open. In the top is a suitableopeningll under which the platen and paper advancing unit designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 12 ismounted. The casing is madelonger than necessary to house the unit and the opening 11 is asufiicient -distance from the :one end so that a rest for the arm-isprovided at 13. The opposite I and into a boss 16 (indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 4) onthe opposite side wall.

The paper advancing mechanism "and platen are constructedas aself-contained and separable unit 12 a which may be mounted in anycasing desired. 7

The frame of the unit 12 comprises two side plates 20 and 21, a bottomplate 22 which includes a semi-cylindrical end member and a top plate orplaten 23 all shown in dissassembled relation in Fig. 8.

The side plates 20 and 21 are each made with inwardly bent lugs 25, ontheir bottom edges and a laterally directed portion 26 bent in from oneend. Forconvenience in describing the arrangement of parts the end ofthe side members provided with the inwardly turned portions 26 will betermed the roller end oi the frame and the opposite end will be calledthe platen end. The top and bottom edges of the side members 20 I and 21near the rollerend are provided with arcuate cut-out portions 27 and 28(Fig. 6).

The bottom plate 22 comprises a flat bot tom portion 30 with its edges31 folded inwardly parallel with but spaced slightly from thebodyportion30 toprovide guides for the paper. The outer .ends of theflanges 31 are spread somewhat as at 82 to facilitate the threading ofthe paper into the guides and to prevent catching of the the plate andforms the journal for th 1 paper as it is drawn therethrough. Theopposite or inner our 33 of the bottom plate 22 is bent into asemi-cylindrical form to conform to the arcuate portions 27 and 28 ofthe side members, and is provided at each side with short extensions 34and which fit into the cut-out portions 27 and 23-respectively. Thebottom portions of the member 22 rests on the lugs 21 of and ispositioned between the side members and with the projections and 35 ofthe curved end engaged in the arcuatecut-out portions 27 and 28, thesaid members 20 and 21 are clamped tightly to the member bytie rods 36which extend froom one side member to the other.

Positioned in the semi spherical endinember 33 is a roller 37 which isspaced therefrom far enough to permit :a'sheet of paper topasstherebetween. =-The roller 37 is cured non-rotatably on an axle memberwhich in turn isjournaled in the side plates 20 and 21. Rigidly securedto one end of the axlemember 38 by the screw 38 on the outside of theplate 20 is a gear wheel '39 having a flange 40 which extends throughend of the axle. The roller 37 is clamped tightly against the flange lOby a nut 41 at the opposite end of the axle. To prevent end play of theaxle in the frame, a flanged nut 12 is threaded onto the axle from'theoutside of the plate 21, the flange 13 tightly abutting the nut -12serving to loclr the same in place andalso providing a smooth journalwhere it passes through the plate 21 in which it rotates with the axle38.

Journaled in the side plates '20 and 21 near the opposite end of theunit 12 is a second axle 4-5 which has a gear wheel 16 securednon-rotatably thereto outside the plate 20 by the screw i7. Securednonrotatably to the other end of'thc axle by a. nut 48 a-notched wheel19 of such a si e that the projections 50 thereon extend slightly abovethe top edge of the side plate 21 when t ie wheel is rota-ted.

Secured for rotation on the side plate 20 bythe bolt 52 and intermes ugwith the gear wheels 39 and 46 is an idler gear wheel 53.

The semi-cylindrical end member '33 is provided with two elongatedopenings 55 extending longitudinally tl erect and disposed between theline of the inwardly projecting portions 26 of the side members ant theaxis of the roller 37. Between the openings for the axle 38- and theinwardly projecting portions'26 each side plate is provided with :ashort slot 56 in which an axle member 57 which extends between the sideplates has some movement toward and from the roller 37. On this axle57-are two sn rollers 58 arranged so their outer perip iesextendthroughthe openings '55 in F member 33 and Contact with the roller 37 or withthe paper when it is threaded over the roll 37. Secured to each end ofthe axle 57 immediately inside of the side plates 20 and 21 are collars59 each having a radially projecting lug 60. Compression springs 61engage over the lugs 60 and extend between the inwardly projectingmembers 26 of the side plates and the collars 59 on the axle 57 foryieldingly pressing the rollers 58 toward the feed roll 37'to hold thepaper there-against.

The platen 23 is provided with attaching portions 65 bent laterally fromthe side edges thereof by which the same is secured to the side plates20 and 21 by screws 66.

The end 67 of the platen near the roller 37 is bent down slightly andextends beneath the end of the member 33 to facilitate threading of thepaper therebetween.

The unit 12 when assembled is positionedin the casing-10 with the platen23 directly under the opening 11 and the operating wheel 49 extendingslightly above the top surface of the casing. Spacing blocks 70 areinterposed between the sides of the unit 12 and the casing, and screws71 which pass through the sides of the casing 10, spacing blocks 70 andscrew into the side plates '20 and 21 securely holding the unit inplace.

Across the casing 10 at the top edge of-95 the platen 23 a cutter bar 75is secured by screws 76.

In operating the device, the paper 14 from the roll is threaded throughunder the guides '31 on top of the plate 30 and about the feed roll 37,between it and the semicylindrical end 33 which guides the paperthereabout, and from the feedroll over the platen 23 and under thecutter bar 75. The

rollers 58 hold the paper 14 tightly against the roller 37 so there-willbe no slipping of the paper when the feed roller 37 is rotated.

After writing on the paper 14 which is presented in the opening 11 overthe platen 23 the wheel 49 is rotated by-a forward push with the heel ofthe hand under which it is conveniently located, and by means 'of thegear-s39, 53 and 46, the feed roller 37 is rotated, and a freshstrip ofpaper=is exposed. detached by aquickpull across the cutter bar 75 underwhich it passes.

The ratio of the gears may be made so that NVIiZll each throw of theexposed projection 50 of the wheel e9, the paper maybe 1 the paper, anda semi-cylindrical end mom-" The paper written upon may be= ber securedbetween said side members, a feed roller positioned in saidsemi-cylindrical end member and journaled in the side members, thesemi-cylindrical member having openings, spring pressed rollers securedto the .end of said side members extending through said semi-cylindricalmember for holding the paper against said feed roll, a platen secured atthe top of said members extending from said feed roller, and meanspivoted to said frame foriengaging said feed roller for rotating thesame. I

2. In a handwriting machine, a paper advancing unit, a frame, a feedroller journaled in said frame, a paper guide extending from the bottomof said roller to one end of said'frame, a semi-cylindrical guideextending from said first guide about said roller and provided withopenings, rollers secured.

in said frame and extending through said openings for holding the paperto said feed roller, springs interposed between said rollers and theframe for resiliently urging said rollers against the feed roll orinterposed paper, a gear wheel secured to said feed roll, and means onsaid frame cooperat ing with said gear wheel for turning said roller. 1

3. A handwriting machine comprising a casing, means at one end of thecasing for supporting a roll of paper, a paper advancing unit secured insaid casing, said unit including a guide for said paper, a feed rollerat one end of said guide, a semi-cylindrical guide extending from saidfirst guide about said roller, spring pressed means for holdingthe-paper to said feed roller, a platen extending from said feed rollerover which paper is to be fed, said casing having an opening over saidplaten and a bar at the end of the platen opposite the feed roller underwhich paper is to be threaded, said feed roller having a gear wheelfixed thereto, and means secured in said casing engaging said gear Wheelfor rotatingsaid feed roll, said means having a part projecting throughthe top of said casing adjacent said opening adapted to be moved by thehand when in writing position over said opening, for rotating said feedroller and advancing the paper over the platen.

pivoted to said frame for engaging said feed roller for rotating thesame.

5. In a handwriting machine, a separable In testimony'whereof, Ihereunto aflix my signature.

4. In a handwriting machine, a separable paper advancing unit, a frameincluding side members, and a semi-cylindrical end member securedbetween said side members, a feed roller positioned in saidsemi-cylindrical end member and journaled in the side members, thesemi-cylindrical member having openings, spring pressed rollers securedto the end of said side members extending through said semi-cylindricalmember for holding the paper against said feed roll, a platen secured atthe top of said members extending from said feed roller, and means 80 1ROBERT A. FLUM,

